Written by Helene Haworth of Harrismith Animal Shelter
Professional photography by Vanessa Bentley Photography
For Suzie, the sun literally shone again after being kept locked up in an outside toilet since 2018. Breathing in clean air and feeling the grass under her feet was heart breaking to see after we had to break open a door to set her free. Her pap was thrown through the gap at the top of the toilet door when she was lucky to get fed.
During winter, when temperatures plummeted to below zero, Suzie’s cries were heard by the community and help was called in. Her frail body was malnourished and her eyesight wasn’t good either. But she was free.
After a quick check-up by Dr Wim Slabber and sponsoring her groom – and thanks to Monique for making her look beautiful once more – she went into foster care with Dr Wim and Dr Kayleigh-Jean Legge.
In their loving care, this gentle black-and-tan dog learnt how to play with other dogs and got to live with cats (some she quite liked to chase...). Kayleigh-Jean says she’s the sweetest girl ever and it was hard to NOT become a foster fail.
“Suzie has so much love to give to her human who makes a fuss of her.”
After a month in foster care and with thanks to Dr Wim’s mum, Ria Slabber, the most perfect home was found – Suzie had found her happy ending... from Harrismith to Randburg! Suzie’s new life is a far cry from the horrible hell hole from which she was rescued. Despite her poor eyesight, Suzie has now found her way around her new home and plays with her new brother, Snoopy, until both are flaked out.
Fanie Terblanche: you’re an exceptional man for adopting Suzie and taking such good care of her, taking her for walks, taking her to a restaurant and loving her. You’ve opened up a brand-new world for her that she’s so deserving of. A huge thank you from all of us at Harrismith Animal Shelter. Enjoy Suzie and Snoopy, who’s also a rescue. Last but not least, we’re most grateful to Dr Wim and Dr Kayleigh-Jean who fostered her, and to Ria for finding her the best home where she can have an awesome doggie life.
Thanks to everyone who shared Suzie’s Facebook post, and many thanks to Bethlehem SPCA for guiding us throughout this rescue process and to the 42nd Hill Councillor who reported the cruelty: thank you for compassion for dogs!
Fanie Terblanche, Suzie’s new owner, shares...
I was in the process of adopting Snoopy (the white dog in the photos – a rescue from the Randburg SPCA) when I saw Ria Slabber (Dr Wim Slabber’s mother), and she told me about Suzie. I’ve always wanted two dogs as I believe they keep each other company, and therefore they’re not so alone during the day.
My heart broke when Ria told me about her, so I immediately said yes, and Ria went and fetched her the next day so I didn’t have any time to change my mind!
The timing was perfect, though, because Suzie then had about a week alone to get used to my garden and me, etc. When Snoopy came she was a bit upset for the first few days, no longer being an only child, but they almost immediately made friends, and from there on they just keep on playing with each other.
I take them for walks and play with them a lot as I work from home, so I have to say, even though Snoopy is a bit naughty (he’s only a year old), Suzie is very well behaved and a very intelligent girl. Even though her close-up vision up is rather bad, her hearing and sense of smell are excellent, so she gets along splendidly in my garden.
She fits through the security gates into the house, so when they play and she’s getting tired of his energy, she slips through the gates and back onto the stoep, where she can take a nap in peace and quiet.
Suzie has settled down well (maybe a little too well as she’s getting a little “chunky”, so I need to cut down on the number of treats I give her). Life is good and my little family is complete!
For more information about Harrismith Animal Shelter, check out our article here: https://www.happytailsmagazine.co.za/news-articles/harrismith-animal-shelter/
